Alma28

Congratulations Alma28. Nice to hear good news. Did you get any rfe's for your case if so what were they? Also how long after the rfe review response did you get your decision? I am still waiting on mine.

Thank you so much! I didn't get any RFE, Sandranj did a great job helping me out gathering all the necessary paperwork.

Congrats Alma28 that was indeed quick time God is great!!!!!! One more survivor free!!!!! Can I ask was your abuse mental/emotional????

It was both physical and emotional. My ex-husband was arrested twice by the police, once because I called 911, the other because our neighbors did. I also had a medical report, pictures taken by the police of my facial bruises, letters from our housemates describing the violence they witnessed and letters from my therapist and the domestic violence organization I went to after the incidents. As far as proof for good faith marriage, I had affidavits from our neighbors, friends, a joint rental lease, joint club membership, gift receipts, engagement ring, cards we exchanged etc... (I had explained that we couldn't get a joint bank account because they refused that at the bank since I didn't have a permanent status at the time)

Hello everyone,

My VAWA application just got approved and I am so happy and relieved!

It's been exactly 12 months since I applied. I had filed an I-485 and an I-765 previously and had received a work permit pretty quickly (6-8 weeks). I want to give very special thanks to Sandranj who helped me throughout the whole process of filing for VAWA, including writing the personal statement, gathering all the necessary paperwork and giving advice about different questions/issues that arose along the way. Getting free help (yes, she didn't charge me anything) when you are feeling so hopeless and depressed is priceless and helped me get through that sad experience, that is why I am indebted to her and always will be. I did a good thing reaching out to this forum because that is how she got in touch with me.

Hi everybody,

I applied for VAWA in May 2012, I am still waiting for an answer from the vermont center. I received a prima facie determination in late may 2012.

I know that the prima facie can be used to get public benefits (food stamps and cash assistance), but here in Massachusetts, they denied my cash assistance application and only gave me food stamps. I can't afford rent or anything else and am facing the threat of becoming homeless (all the shelters in MA are full).

If someone on this forum used their prima facie to receive cash assistance from the government, please share it and indicate in what state you got it.

Thank you.

Hello Carlsbad,

I am going through the same thing. Prima facie but no cash assistance. Did you go yourself to the social services and applied for cash assistance and food stamps? What county are you in?

Hello everyone,

I need some input from VAWA applicants who applied for cash assistance and medicaid and whether their application was approved or not. I am in great need for financial support, I got a prima facie from VAWA but my social services denied my application for cash assistance here in Massachusetts (because I don't have any children and am not disabled). Please let me know what states approve that kind of help and about your experiences.

Thank you.

Hi maryhoney87, read my post. I explained it a couple of months ago on this site.

1. Apply for FAFSA online, REMEMBER, pick the option of eligible non-citizen,

2. take your prima facie to your financial aid officer. Most people have not heard of prima facie for battered immigrants, so I'ld advice you take along with you the 'dear collegue letter.' you can print it out straight for the internet.

3. Insist to them that you qualify. GOODLUCK!

I am currently in school and i get financial aid.

Hi Myjay, I want to apply for financial aid to go to school too. What state are you in? Do private institutes like Kaplan give financial aid through vawa as well?

Hi everybody,

I received a prima facie determination two days ago after two weeks of sending my application to VSC. I tried to use the prima facie to apply for cash assistance and food stamps but the DTA (Department of Transitional Assistance) denied my request telling me that they don't know what a prima facie is or even what VAWA is. I went to 3 DTA centers and they all gave me the same answer : we don't know what you're talking about and you're not eligible because you don't have children nor a disability. I don't understand and I'm frustrated. I live in Boston, MA so I was wondering if anyone here had applied for public benefits in massachusetts, please help me and let me know how you did it.